Where Death and Glory Meet: Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Infantry

Customer Reviews:

GLORY.......2007-02-17

HONOR THE MEMORY OF COLONEL ROBERT GOULD SHAW AND THE FIGHTING MASSACHUSETTS 54TH BLACK REGIMENT IN THE CIVIL WAR

COMMENTARY

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Those familiar with the critical role that the recruitment of black troops into the Union Armies in the American Civil War usually know about the famous Massachusetts 54th Regiment under Colonel Robert Gould Shaw which has received wide attention in book, film and sculpture. Those heroic black fighters and their fallen leader deserve those honors. Glory, indeed.

Although Shaw was hesitate to take command of those troops after suffering wounds at Antietam when he accepted he took full charge of the training and discipline of the regiment. Moreover, as the regiment marched into Boston to cheering crowds before embarking on ships to take them South each trooper knew the score. Any blacks captured (or their white officers, for that matter) were subject to Southern `justice', summary execution. Not one trooper flinched. Arms in hands, they fought bravely at the defeat of Fort Wagner and other Deep South battles, taking many causalities.

I have remarked elsewhere (in a review of William Styron's Confessions of Nat Turner)
that while the slaves in the South, for a host of reasons, did not insurrect with the intensity or frequency of say Haiti, the other West Indian islands or Brazil that when the time came to show discipline, courage and honor under arms that blacks would prove not inferior to whites. And the history of the Massachusetts 54th is prima facie evidence for that position.

I should also note that the Massachusetts 54th was made up primarily of better educated and skilled freedman and escaped slaves unlike the black troops recruited from the plantations in the Deep South in the 1st and 2nd South Carolina black regiments. Thus, one might have suspected that they would not be up to the rigors of Southern duty. Not so. After reading a number of books on the trials and tribulations of various Union regiments, including the famous Irish Brigade, the story of the 54th compares very favorably with those units.

However, so as not to get carried away with the `liberalism' of the Union political and military commands in granting permission for black recruitment it is necessary to point out some of the retrograde racial attitudes of the time. It took a major propaganda thrust by Frederick Douglass and other revolutionary abolitionists to get Lincoln to even consider arming blacks for their own emancipation. Only after several severe military reversals was permission granted to recruit black troops, although some maverick generals were already using them, particularly General Hunter. As mentioned above there were qualms about the ability of blacks to fight in disciplined units. Moreover, until 1864 black troops were paid less than their white counterparts. The Massachusetts 54th is also rightly famous for refusing pay until that disparity was corrected.

One should also not forget that the North in its own way was as deeply racist as the South (think of the treacherous role of the Southern-sympathying Northern Copperheads and the Irish-led anti-black Draft Riots in New York City, for examples). This reflected itself in the racial attitudes of some commanding officers and enlisted men and well as the general paternalism of even the best white commanding officers, including Colonel Higginson of the 2nd South Carolina. It was further reflected in the disproportionately few blacks that became officers in the Civil War, despite the crying need for officers in those black regiments and elsewhere. Yet, all of these negatives notwithstanding, every modern black liberation fighter takes his or her hat off to the gallant 54th, arms in hand, and its important role in the struggle for black liberation

A Good Portrait of "New England's Perfect Son".......2004-06-11

Although Robert Gould Shaw was only 25 years old when he died, leading the 54th Massachusetts Infantry in a futile assault on Fort Wagner, he has become an object of interest in the past dozen years, especially since the release of the movie "Glory," which gave a somewhat fictionalized account of the 54th. This book by Russell Duncan is a good introduction to the life of Shaw, and gives an extensive bibliography for those who want to engage in further reading and research.

In this book (which is an expanded version of the introduction to Shaw's collected letters that Duncan edited and published in the book "Blue Eyed Child of Fortune") Duncan gives a view of a life that one can truly say was tragically cut short by war. Robert Gould Shaw spent much of his short life trying to find his way and place in the world, something that many of us can identify with immediately. He had difficulty in accepting authority; he could not decide upon a career; he was the only son of well-known abolitionist parents, yet he had grave reservations about the abilities of black people. A "rebel" by nature, he could be rigid and unbending with others. He was dominated by his mother, only truly breaking away from her by marrying a lovely young woman against his mother's wishes. Married to a woman he apparently adored, he also engaged in a flirtation with a schoolmistress in South Carolina after accepting the command of the 54th. Shaw had found his calling in the military: he was brave, and able to inspire confidence within his men, yet he promised his future wife that he would not persue the military as a career once the war was over.

This book is a good introducation to the brief life of Robert Gould Shaw. It contains some photographs of the Shaw family and Annie Haggarety, Shaw's wife. It also dispells some of the myths about the 54th that were present in the movie "Glory," chief among them the myth that the 54th was made up primarily of unlettered escaped slaves. From reading Duncan's book it appears many were literate freedmen of long standing. Also, the sergeant-major of the 54th was the son of Frederick Douglass, not the middle aged recruit as played by Morgan Freedman in the movie. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in the life of Robert Gould Shaw, or the history of the 54th, as a jumping off point for further reading.

A gripping tale of honor!.......2002-04-23

This book serves as an important source of information regarding the birth of the 54th Massachusetts,black soldiers, politics, Shaw's personal and Civil War life. It is well written and places the reader at the start of northeastern politics and Shaw's upbringing. Shaw leads a pampered life of a wealthy family. He travels the world yet comes back to fight for the Union in the Civil War. His family is influencial in his military promotions and sets his promotion to Colonel with Governer Andrew's backing. Shaw becomes Colonel of the 54th and dares to take a risk at leading the first ever black regiment. His daring tale of being an outcast and a potential political target for his role in getting the 54th ready for battle is courageous and inspiring. The book covers the plights of the 54th in learning drill, military life and battle in chronological fashion. Much is covered in this short yet informative book on Shaw and the 54th. The definate "must read" for anyone looking to get an understanding of how the 54th and Colonel Shaw came together and fought!

A superb contribution to Civil War & Black History studies........2000-05-09

Where Death And Glory Meet: Colonel Robert Gould Shaw And The 54th Massachusetts Infantry is the fascinating military biography of Civil War Colonel Robert Shaw who commanded an infantry unit composed of Negro soldiers, the North's first Black combat regiment. Russell Duncan presents a poignant portrait of an average young soldier struggling against his mother's indomitable will and thrust unexpectedly into the national limelight. Drawing upon Shaw's letters home before and during the war, Where Death And Glory Meet tells the story of the rebellious son of wealthy Boston abolitionists who never fully reconciled his own racial prejudices, yet went on to lead his black regiment into fierce and bloody battlefield conflicts where they performed with heroic distinction and scotched forever the notion that black soldiers would not or could not fight successfully against the Confederate forces. Where Death And Glory Meet is a superb contribution to Civil War studies and will prove of deep interest to students of Black history.

Deja vu.......2000-04-26

This book is basically the biographical essay and chapter introductions to Duncan's 1992 book about Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, Blue-Eyed Child of Fortune. In many places, the text reads word for word the same as the 1992 work. As such, it is disappointing. Duncan doesn't give much new information about Shaw. I also found it disturbing that Shaw's biographer would describe his wife as "the younger woman" when she was actually two years older than he. I feel that in the seven years that have elapsed between Blue-Eyed Child of Fortune and this title, Duncan could have researched primary and secondary sources in more depth to add to Shaw's biography. Where Death and Glory Meet is also very short: 126 pages of text, with the remaining pages taken up by notes, bibliography, and index. If you haven't read anything about Shaw, then you will probably enjoy this book. It would also be good for school libraries. Otherwise, Blue-Eyed Child of Fortune, with the letters of Colonel Shaw, gives you a better understanding of the man.

Book Description

Intelligently designed tourism strategies for the twenty-first century!

Successful tourism development and marketing are dependent on maintaining a delicate balance between economic growth and the protection of environments. Managing Sustainable Tourism: A Legacy for the Future tackles the tough issues of tourism such as negative environmental impact and cultural degradation, and provides answers that don't sacrifice positive economic growth. This essential book offers practical plans for fostering harmonious relationships among local communities, the private sector, not-for-profit organizations, academic institutions, and governments at all levels as well as develops management practices and philosophies that protect natural, built, and cultural environments while reinforcing positive and orderly economic growth.

Managing Sustainable Tourism discusses in-depth the sensible guidelines for protecting environment, heritage sites, and local culture while developing realistic tourism goals for compatible economic growth. Useful strategies for sustainable tourism are detailed for each tourism type, along with useful tried-and-true marketing techniques aimed at cooperation and respect for all types of environments. Case studies, research, and supplemental reading lists clearly illustrate ideas and the author's qualified suggestions.

Managing Sustainable Tourism explores:

the future of the tourism industry

understanding sustainable tourism

the economics of community growth through tourism

marketing the sustainable tourism product

nature tourism

heritage tourism

cultural tourism

rural tourism

practical guidelines for sustainable tourism

a workable global sustainable tourism initiative

Book Description

All forms of tourism have impacts on the natural environment. The impacts of ecotourism tend to be concentrated in areas of highest conservation value, hence the need to manage and minimize these. The book considers impacts of particular activities, such as hiking and camping, off-road vehicles, and recreational boats, and impacts specific to certain ecosystems (e.g. marine environments, polar coasts, mountain environments.) It incorporates reviews of better-studied impacts by well-known experts; and case studies of recent research and less well-known issues.

Marine Tourism: Development, Impacts and Management

Average customer rating:

Marine Tourism: Development, Impacts and Management
Mark Orams
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Hospitality, Travel & Tourism | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Natural Resources | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0415139384

Book Description

Marine Tourism examines tourism in coastal and marine environments. Mark Orams provides an overview of the history, development and growth of marine tourism and describes the characteristics of marine tourists' and the "vendors" of these tourist activities. Marine Tourism includes case studies of specific types of tourism including: the cruise ship industry, whale and dolphin watching, yachting and the America's Cup, and maritime museums and festivals in locales including the Florida Keys and Hawaii, the Caribbean, New Zealand, and Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The book also examines tourism impacts on marine ecosystems and coastal communities and explores management techniques aimed at reducing negative impacts and maximizing the benefits of marine tourism.

Adventure vs. Ecotourism.(environmental impact of so-called ecotourist activities)(Brief Article): An article from: E

Average customer rating:

Adventure vs. Ecotourism.(environmental impact of so-called ecotourist activities)(Brief Article): An article from: E
Jenny E. Beeh
Manufacturer: Earth Action Network, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Natural Resources | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00098RN26
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from E, published by Earth Action Network, Inc. on May 1, 1999. The length of the article is 850 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Adventure vs. Ecotourism.(environmental impact of so-called ecotourist activities)(Brief Article)
Author: Jenny E. Beeh
Publication: E (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 1999
Publisher: Earth Action Network, Inc.
Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Page: 46(1)

Article Type: Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Le recreotourisme et l'environnement naturel dans les aires protegees periurbaines : la region metropolitaine de Montreal.(recreational ecology and impact ... from: Canadian Journal of Regional Science

Average customer rating:

Le recreotourisme et l'environnement naturel dans les aires protegees periurbaines : la region metropolitaine de Montreal.(recreational ecology and impact ... from: Canadian Journal of Regional Science
Melanie Doyon , and Soumaya Frej
Manufacturer: Canadian Journal of Regional Science
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0009GSQHE
Release Date: 2005-08-01

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Canadian Journal of Regional Science, published by Canadian Journal of Regional Science on June 22, 2003. The length of the article is 5401 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Le recreotourisme et l'environnement naturel dans les aires protegees periurbaines : la region metropolitaine de Montreal.(recreational ecology and impact on Mont Saint Bruno and Mont Saint Hilaire in Montreal, Canada )
Author: Melanie Doyon
Publication: Canadian Journal of Regional Science (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 2003
Publisher: Canadian Journal of Regional Science
Volume: 26 Issue: 2-3 Page: 419(14)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

The new rage in tourism: Ecotourism is a growing industry in Alaska-perfect for those who want to experience the outdoors without environmental impact.: An article from: Alaska Business Monthly

Average customer rating:

The new rage in tourism: Ecotourism is a growing industry in Alaska-perfect for those who want to experience the outdoors without environmental impact.: An article from: Alaska Business Monthly
McKibben Jackinsky
Manufacturer: Alaska Business Publishing Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Alaska Business Monthly, published by Alaska Business Publishing Company, Inc. on October 1, 2002. The length of the article is 1982 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The new rage in tourism: Ecotourism is a growing industry in Alaska-perfect for those who want to experience the outdoors without environmental impact.
Author: McKibben Jackinsky
Publication: Alaska Business Monthly (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 1, 2002
Publisher: Alaska Business Publishing Company, Inc.
Volume: 18 Issue: 10 Page: 22(3)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Scuba diver behaviour and the management of diving impacts on coral reefs [An article from: Biological Conservation]

Average customer rating:

Scuba diver behaviour and the management of diving impacts on coral reefs [An article from: Biological Conservation]
N.H.L. Barker , and C.M. Roberts
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Biological Conservation, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
Coral reefs worldwide are attracting increasing numbers of scuba divers, leading to growing concern about damage. There is now a need to manage diver behaviour closely, especially as many dive companies offer unlimited, unsupervised day and night diving from shore. We observed 353 divers in St. Lucia and noted all their contacts with the reef during entire dives to quantify rates of damage and seek ways of reducing it. Divers using a camera caused significantly more contacts with the reef than did those without cameras (mean 0.4 versus 0.1 contacts min^-^1), as did shore versus boat dives (mean 0.5 versus 0.2 contacts min^-^1) and night versus day dives (mean 1.0 versus 0.4 contacts min^-^1). We tested the effect of a one-sentence inclusion in a regular dive briefing given by local staff that asked divers to avoid touching the reef. We also examined the effect of dive leader intervention on rates of diver contact with the reef. Briefing alone had no effect on diver contact rates, or on the probability of a diver breaking living substrate. However, dive leader intervention when a diver was seen to touch the reef reduced mean contact rates from 0.3 to 0.1 contacts min^-^1 for both shore and boat dives, and from 0.2 to 0.1 contacts min^-^1 for boat dives. Given that briefings alone are insufficient to reduce diver damage, we suggest that divers need close supervision, and that dive leaders must manage diver behaviour in situ.

Illinois farm programs: Long-term impacts on terrestrial [i.e. terrestial] ecosystems and wildlife-related recreation, tourism, and economic development : final report, phase I

Average customer rating:

Illinois farm programs: Long-term impacts on terrestrial [i.e. terrestial] ecosystems and wildlife-related recreation, tourism, and economic development : final report, phase I
Richard E Warner
Manufacturer: Illinois Natural History Survey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Land Use | Administrative Law | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00073C5MG

Average customer rating:

Early guide to the facts of GPS and mapping

What Do You Expect

Essential and Practical

Disappointed

Buy the book then the GPS

Gps Made Easy: Using Global Positioning Systems in the Outdoors
Lawrence Letham
Manufacturer: Mountaineers Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Instructional | Hiking & Camping | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Accessories:

Rayovac SPHLTLED 3-in-1 LED Head-Lite

ASIN: 0898868238

Book Description

This continues to be the best-selling instructional for the wildly popular consumer GPS technology because it is also the most up-to-date of any text on the topic.

The fourth edition covers improvements in GPS accuracy as a result of WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System). Many new GPS receivers now accept corrective signals from this system of satellites and ground stations. WAAS is referred to in every section of the book describing accuracy.

The updated title has a new chapter explaining how to download maps and computer software to a GPS receiver, including examples readers can follow.

Customer Reviews:

Early guide to the facts of GPS and mapping.......2003-02-24

This book is the book I bought along with my Garmin etrex vista. The book covers the original generation of GPS systems and gives a thorough overview of the common (and not so common) systems adopted around the world for mapping locations.

It is invaluable as a reference and for anybody who wants to know more than how to push a button.

I would never, ever, travel to any remote area without at least two good compasses and the requisite topos. Yes, I love my GPS - but I have to replace it because it was lost (along with a daypack) in a self-arrest on Mt. Moran last summer. Batteries run down and wars may make the system less accurate (or unavailable). All of these issues are covered in this fine little book.

GPS technology is wonderful and the EU plans to launch yet another system in the next decade. The devices will become more affordable -- but the fundamental aspects of mapping and how these devices work is well explained by this fine reference and it will remain the reference for years to come.

What Do You Expect.......2003-02-22

Great book, does exactly what the title says it will do

Essential and Practical.......2003-01-06

This book is intended for a particular audience, and I think it meets the needs of that audience rather well. Frankly, if you do not have a working knowledge of basic land navigation prior to buying this book, and before buying a GPS for that matter, much of the book will not make much sense. At the same time, if what you are looking for is a detailed account of the technical side of GPS operations and use, this book won't provide what you want. What is covered well in this book is combining the use of GPS with a map for safe and accurate navigation.

Disappointed.......2002-07-13

I got as much from my owner's manual as I did from this book. It might have been a better value if I bought it before I bought the GPS. It is also a little outdated, but I expected that with the technology changing so rapidly.

If you want to completely understand all the techy stuff behind what makes GPS work than it just might be for you, but the owners manual that comes with your GPS will be plenty for most.

Buy the book then the GPS.......2002-03-28

This book will not only help you figure out how to use the features of your GPS receiver but it will help you figure out what features will be important to you in a GPS receiver so you don't buy the wrong unit. All of the features of the various major consumer grade GPS receivers are explained in one chapter. Subsequent chapters illustrate how many of those features could be used in various outdoor activities. There are sections on how to get coordinates out of your receiver and onto a map or off of the map and into the receiver.

I was a little annoyed by being told repeatedly to go back to previous chapters to read something explained there when a short reminder could have been included on the spot. And none of the figures are numbered so you have to figure out which figure is being referred to. A reference section list some vendors of receivers and ancilary items along with their phone mumber but there are no Web pages listed and sometimes a product name and number are listed without the manufacturer's name. Letham tells you that antenna sensativity is important bud doesn't go on to explain what the values are or mean and whether high or low values are better when comparing units.

In spite of these annoyances this is a useful book which could keep you from making a costly mistake if you read it before you buy your receiver. And the practical examples will help you understand what techniques might work in your application.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books